Methods for treating or reducing the risk of arthritis in a subject by administering gelsolin

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of gelsolin to treat inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) and to the use of gelsolin to diagnose, monitor, and evaluate therapies of inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for treating a subject having arthritis, or for reducing the risk of developing arthritis in a subject, comprising:
 administering an effective amount of gelsolin to a subject in need of such a treatment to treat the subject. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN) or cytoplasmic gelsolin (cGSN). 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gelsolin is administered orally, sublingually, buccally, intranasally, intravenously, intramuscularly, intraarticularly, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, or topically. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering a second agent for treating the arthritis. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the gelsolin is administered intravenously, intraarticularly, intramuscularly, or intraperitoneally. 
     
     
       7. A method for treating a subject having arthritis, or for reducing the risk of developing arthritis in a subject, comprising:
 administering an effective amount of gelsolin to a subject in need of such a treatment to raise the level of gelsolin in the subject above a predetermined value, thereby treating or reducing the risk of arthritis in a subject. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN) or cytoplasmic gelsolin (cGSN). 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gelsolin is administered orally, sublingually, buccally, intranasally, intravenously, intramuscularly, intraarticularly, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, or topically. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7  further comprising administering a second agent for treating the arthritis. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the gelsolin is administered intravenously, intraarticularly, intramuscularly, or intraperitoneally. 
     
     
       13. A method for reducing the risk of developing arthritis in a subject, comprising:
 (i) selecting a subject on the basis that the subject is known to have a below-normal level of gelsolin; and 
 (ii) administering gelsolin or gelsolin and a second agent to the subject in an effective amount to reduce the risk of the subject developing arthritis. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN) or cytoplasmic gelsolin (cGSN). 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the subject is apparently healthy. 
     
     
       17. A method for treating a subject with a below-normal level of gelsolin comprising:
 (i) treating the subject with a first therapy for treating or reducing the risk of arthritis, 
 (ii) obtaining a level of gelsolin in the subject, 
 (iii) comparing the level of gelsolin obtained in (ii) to a predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined level of gelsolin, and if the predetermined level of gelsolin is not reached, 
 (iv) treating the subject with a second agent for treating or reducing the risk of arthritis, and repeating (ii) and (iii) until the predetermined level of gelsolin is reached.